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Smarter technology is improving the lives of disabled people

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Banking innovations that make managing money easier for everyone can really help those with different needs

February 4, 2017, 00.01am

June Maylin with her guide dog Shannon

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Clever new technology has made our lives easier and better in ways we could never have imagined. For June Maylin, it has given her one of the most precious gifts of all: her independence. June, 64, has been blind almost since birth and once despaired of the way her disability left her feeling dependent on her family and friends. But, through embracing new technologies, she has now taken real control over her finances – and, with that, over other aspects of her life.

“I’m very independent and I can’t bear having to ask other people to do things for me,” says June, who lives with her husband Alan and guide dog Shannon in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex. “For many years, managing my money was a real problem, which made many other things difficult. But the technology now puts me in charge; it’s made a massive difference.”

As a young adult, June had to make weekly trips to her local bank, where staff would talk her through her statements, paying bills and giving her cash. “I accepted it because there was no other option, but I hated not being able to manage for myself,” she recalls. The situation began to improve around 20 years ago, when June got her first mobile phone. “It wasn’t a smartphone, but my bank would send me a text message with my balance and the phone had a facility to read it out, which was really helpful. Today, I manage all my financial affairs by smartphone,” she says. “It has genuinely transformed my life, cutting out all those frustrating trips to the bank.”

Using her fingerprint to log into her mobile banking app, June can make payments simply by giving verbal instructions into her phone. “I think I’d be lost without my apps now,” she says. June is also a fan of bPay by Barclaycard, which allows her to use a keyfob or wristband to make contactless payments of up to £30. It’s simple to use, and it works anywhere that accepts contactless payments. “It’s perfect for me because I don’t like getting my bank cards out when I’m not sure who might be looking,” she says.

June’s story provides an insight into how the technologies designed to make banking easier for everyone can be particularly effective for people with disabilities, and are steadily giving people much more control over their money. Even small, relatively low-tech initiatives can make a big difference.

For instance, June now uses a debit card that has a cut-out section on the shorter side. It means that she can tell which way up her card is just by the feel of it. “It sounds like such a little thing but it’s embarrassing to have to constantly ask shop assistants whether you’ve got your bank card the wrong way round,” she explains.

The key thing about these developments is that you can pick and choose what you like from a wealth of technological innovations, and stick with more traditional interactions when you prefer. For instance, Barclays has almost 4,000 talking cashpoints across the UK, which can make withdrawals easier for some older people and those with sight loss. Customers simply plug in their own headphones and away they go – but June still likes to visit the bank when she wants to take cash out. “I know several people who find those talking cashpoints really useful,” she says. “I can see that they’re convenient, but, personally, I still prefer to make withdrawals over the counter.”

June spends two days a week as chair for the Blind and Sight Impaired Society, in Basildon, Essex, a charity that promotes independent living. “I talk to members of the society about the difference that technology can make to people’s lives because I don’t know if all of them realise that it is so amazing: it’s also given me the confidence to challenge any companies I come across that might not be doing such a good job.”

Barclays Comment

Making banking more accessible

Kathryn Townsend, Barclays’ Head of Customer Accessibility, shares her tips for making banking easier for people with different needs.

Ask for advice

Tasks such as banking can be daunting if your physical or mental abilities change and your usual ways of doing things no longer work for you. Abilitynet.org.uk has factsheets on how technology can help, or you could ask a Barclays Digital Eagle. Just call in at a Barclays branch or visit barclays.co.uk/digitaleagles

Use voice security

Some banks, including Barclays, offer technology that verifies telephone banking customers by their voice. It is free and is especially useful if you struggle to remember passcodes.

Don’t rely on cards

You can make contactless payments using a wristband or keyfob – bPay offers a range of devices that can be linked to most major credit or debit cards, and which can be useful for wheelchair users or people with sight loss.* Visit bpay.co.uk

* With bPay you can pay for anything £30 and under, wherever you see the contactless symbol. Each bPay account is subject to application and T&Cs. You must be 12-years-old or over to open an account. You will need a UK-registered Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card to add funds to your account. Each bPay device is valid for a minimum of two years.